Rayla D. Mattson

A photograph of Rayla Mattson smiling broadly.

Rayla D. Mattson (name, not pronouns) is a single parent who lives in Bloomfield, CT with their three children. Rayla is a religious professional and an avid writer. In Rayla's free time, Rayla enjoys cooking, baking, board and card games and anything that makes Rayla laugh.

From Rayla D. Mattson

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I feel sad to lose a spiritual practice that I can now recognize, honor, and appreciate.

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | June 2, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser

I often go to bed during this pandemic wondering if my heart can hurt anymore. Then I wake up and see the news and my heartache continues. I wonder what to say to my children. What do I say to my little one, versus what I say to my teens about the state of our country?...

By Rayla D. Mattson | June 22, 2020 | From LeaderLab

I often go to bed during this pandemic wondering if my heart can hurt anymore. Then I wake up and see the news and my heartache continues. I wonder what to say to my children. What do I say to my little one, versus what I say to my teens about the state of our country?...

By Rayla D. Mattson | June 22, 2020 | From Call and Response

I come from a long line of strong Black women. My grandmother used to share stories about how she caused “trouble” in town when a white man hired her to put up the displays in his store window. At that time, all the Black women in town worked as domestics in the homes of white ladies, or in the...

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | February 5, 2020 | From WorshipWeb

People of color—and other marginalized people—can’t just want things to be different. It has to be everyone wanting things to be different for everyone.

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | May 29, 2019 | From Braver/Wiser

Traditions and habits can be changed or broken and that’s not always bad. It doesn’t mean we didn’t learn or like what we did in the past, it just means that we moved on to something else and that’s okay too.

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | January 16, 2019 | From Braver/Wiser

A white woman pulled over and ran over to me with a shopping bag. As I looked down at the bag, I had very mixed emotions.

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | November 14, 2018 | From Braver/Wiser

My heart broke the day my son stood in the bathroom crying. He handed me a pair of scissors and told me to just cut it. I told him how beautiful his hair was and how sad I would be to see him cut it.

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | April 18, 2018 | From Braver/Wiser

I spent time feeling embarrassed—that somehow I had failed—because I had filed for divorce. It’s been over nine years now, and I wake up every single day happy with my decision.

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | February 14, 2018 | From Braver/Wiser

My oldest child was confused: why would no one stop and help us? Even though people weren’t stopping to help us, my son said, he wanted to be more like me and stop to help someone anyway.

Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | January 3, 2018 | From Braver/Wiser

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